THURSDAY: It's Opening Day, when it's still possible to dream of another Padres pennant -- and toast those visions with a good beer. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., a block party on J Street outside Petco Park will feature live music from a Stones tribute band, food trucks and beers from Stone, Paulaner and local brewpub Monkey Paw. Pints are $5, while admission and hope for a great season are free.

Opening Day Block Party: J St. between 7th and 10th Avenues

THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY...: And so on through April, an entire month Blind Lady is devoting to IPAs. Thursday, the featured beer is Port Wipeout; Friday, Stone Ruination; Saturday, Green Flash Imperial IPA; and Sunday, Ballast Point Sculpin.

FRIDAY: The aforementioned Monkey Paw, just hitting its stride as a nanobrewery, rolls out a cask of its Rich Man's Double IPA at its sister tavern, Hamilton's. Not having sampled this IIPA, I can't add anything -- but, really, what more do you need to know?

SATURDAY: The CityBeat Festival of Beers takes place in its time-honored spot -- this is the, what, fourth annual CB FoB? the fifth? -- outside the Lafayette Hotel. VIP tickets are sold out, but general admission ($35) is still available here. That ticket comes with unlimited one-ounce samples from 2 to 5:30 p.m.

CityBeat Festival of Beers: 2223 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego

MONDAY: Start the week (or mark the end of a loooong weekend) with a house-made sausage and a draft beer at The Linkery.